Private Company Edition: Last year set a high bar for venture capital, but this year is starting strong. Recent VC mega-deals include $500m for EQRx and $230m-plus for Tessera Therapeutics. Also, BioGeneration Ventures closed a €140m ($170.2m) fund and NewAmsterdam raised a $196m series A.

Announcing its first big pharma deal, the Oxford-based biotech says there could be more to come – with mRNA pioneers also interested in shining a light on hidden drug targets.

Private Company Edition: Immunocore’s $130m round kicked off a series of $100m-plus venture capital deals, including financings for Xilio, Akouos and Pliant. Also, VC investment in cell and gene therapies surged in 2019 and MPM launched two funds with $126 for early cancer research.

After a record breaking Series A fundraising, the UK biotech hit a series of problems. Can a new CEO and new funding help it fulfil its promise?